Biglmaier and Miiller crowned champions in Terracina

Germany’s Maraike Biglmaier and Brazil’s Rafaella Miiller clinched a stunning comeback from 5-3 down in the final set to defeat Sofia Cimatti and Giulia Gasparri 6-3 1-6 7-5 to win the Beach Tennis World Championships in Terracina.

The duo, who revealed in the post-match interview that they hadn’t actually trained with one another much before coming to this year’s championships, battled back from the brink of defeat against the home favourites.

Biglmaier said: “In a final like that, in a World Championship, anything can happen. We had to fight until the last point and we kept on fighting. In the end we took it – that was important!”

Miiller added: “I felt pressure and I didn’t play my best beach tennis today. My partner helped me because I was a little bit lost. It was amazing.”

For Biglmaier it is a first World Championship title, while Miiller has doubled her tally having also triumphed back in 2016 alongside countrywoman Joana Cortez.

The men’s final, which takes place on Sunday, will be contested by Alessandro Calbucci and Michele Cappelletti against Nikita Burmakin and Tommaso Giovannini after both pairs triumphed in their semi-finals on Saturday.

Calbucci and Cappelletti defeated Nicolas Gianotti and Antonio Ramos Viera 6-3 7-5 while Burmakin and Giovannini proved too strong for Ramon Guedez and Aksel Samardzic 7-6(5) 6-4.